I have this book and it has a few issues . It doesn't begin to address the actual battle until page 285 in the chapter "The Road to Gettysburg ." The first 284 pages covers topics like infantry organization , weapons , etc. Also the same with artillery , cavalry and other arms and services . I think a beginner may get bogged down in the details though the order of battle is well done and useful . The actual treatment of the battle is not very deep . For the first day there are 55 pages , but better than half I would guess are devoted to maps , pictures and biographies . The maps and illustrations are well done but despite its size I think this book would be good for beginners , provided they don't get bogged down in all the pre-battle chapters . One issue I do have is that there are several illustrations of uniformed soldiers and it shows a black Confederate as "Private , 8th Louisiana Volunteer Infantry . " In the text under the illustration it says "It is estimated that more than 65,000 Southern Blacks served in the Confederate ranks , and of these , 13,000 were combatants." No references given . The illustration "represents Private Charles F. Lutz, a freeman of color in Company F".